Has anyone driven from New England area to HHI?

[Caitsmama]

We have ressies at Disney HHI feb. vacation week, and the flights are insane! We looked into flying into Jacksonville and renting a car (which we would have to do reguardless) and driving up to HHI, But, even those flights on SW are crazy..
It would cost about 1400.00 for 3 of us to fly, on SW! Then there is renting the car.. which would be about another $300 for the week.

I brought up to my mom about driving down.. yes, i know it is a long drive, but we would do it over 2 1/2 days - It will be me, my mom and my dd (6). I am estimating the gas to be about $300 round trip - she only has a 4 cylinder car. (honda accord).
I just can't see spending that kind of money to fly and rent a car.. Has anyone else driven to HHI from the New England area? If so, what was your take on it?
TIA

 

[Mahusky]

My advice if you drive is to rent a car or better yet a van. You will need the extra space. I haven't driven to HHI but have to Myrtle Beach and I think if you spread the drive over 2 days the drive is pretty easy. From RI maybe 7 1/2 hours each day.

Here is hoping for warm weather in the southeast in Feb!!!

 

[pb4ugo]

DH and I always drive to FL from central Jersey and we did the drive to HHI this past Nov. We take our time and make the trip an integral part of our vacation - stopping wherever and whenever we want. We will be making the run to WDW the week before you do. But we won't be driving a 4cyl vehicle - we have an suv. We also make several trips a year to our house in Maine - so driving is something we know!

The thing you are going to have to be wary of in Feb is the weather! We left NJ last Feb [same week] and watched 20" of sn** fall in the rear view mirror! NC has been known to have pretty scary weather at that time of year. On last year's trip home we awoke in NC to slick icy roads - so we lounged in bed watching the weather channel for longer than we usually would and then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast somewhere before we hit the pavement.

If you decide to make the drive, catch up with me next month and I'll share what I know about motel/restaurant deals along I95.

 

[dumbo71]

I've driven that route plenty of times and alone I might add.

It will take about 16 hours or so depending on where you are driving from.
I drove it in one day when I've driven from Vermont to Charleston, SC. HH is an hour or so further.

I'd vote for driving it. You'll save airfare and rental car.

 

[Caitsmama]

Thanks! We won't be renting a car, As my moms car trunk is plenty big for us.. We are only bringing one suitcase each, since we can do laundry in the room. My main concern is the weather as you mentioned.. That time of year is tough..

 

[Jynohn]

DH and I drove down to HHI from MA last November. We took three days to get there, with stops in Williamsburg, VA and Asheville, NC along the way. We had a great time, but we really enjoy road trips and don't mind spending time in the car. The ride down was a lot of fun due to the stops we made, but the ride home was pretty tedious, with nothing to look forward to. I'm not sure of the exact time it took, but I would guess about 18 hours. I would probably do it again depending on airfare and if it were just DH and I, but the kids would have been miserable being in the car that long and would have driven us crazy!

Have a great trip, whatever you decide!

 

[Starr W.]

Thanks! We won't be renting a car, As my moms car trunk is plenty big for us.. We are only bringing one suitcase each, since we can do laundry in the room. My main concern is the weather as you mentioned.. That time of year is tough..

Will keep my fingers crossed on the weather for you.

 

[dis-happy]

I've driven that route plenty of times and alone I might add.

It will take about 16 hours or so depending on where you are driving from.
I drove it in one day when I've driven from Vermont to Charleston, SC. HH is an hour or so further.

I'd vote for driving it. You'll save airfare and rental car.

Plan on a minimum of 2 extra hours past Charleston to get to HH-DVC.

I used to drive from DC/Nothern VA to HH regularly in 9-10 hours, via the I-95.. Add in the add'l time from New England. Very do-able in 2 days. Have you tried checking fares on the website www,sidestep.com? It might give you some cheaper alternatives. Either way, hope you have a fun trip!

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Plan on a minimum of 2 extra hours past Charleston to get to HH-DVC.

I used to drive from DC/Nothern VA to HH regularly in 9-10 hours, via the I-95.. Add in the add'l time from New England. Very do-able in 2 days. Have you tried checking fares on the website www,sidestep.com? It might give you some cheaper alternatives. Either way, hope you have a fun trip!

We just drove this from Westbrook CT(about an hour from RI) this Sept. And I have driven this route dozens of times as I used to go to school in Charleston.


Absolutely correct on the 2 hours past Charleston.

The drive can easily be done in one full day plus a few hours the next morning. If you are a road tripper by nature you can possibly make it one day if you push especially if you are driving on a weekend, but it will put you in late and theres not much reasons blowing the points to just sleep when you get a decent hotel anywhere along 95 for 75-100 bucks

Its about 12-14 hours from RI to the NC/SC border and their is a decent sized town there called Lumberton with a million hotels. Then its only about 3-4 hours from there to HH.

Its about 16 hours from Westbrook, CT during the week, shave about an hour off during weekends or if you are lucky enough to get over the GW bridge and then later through DC without hitting traffic

 

[Rascals]

We are going to HH in April so I have been following airfare closely. Just checked and you can get RT from Boston(Logan) for $222 in Feb. on Airtran.Certain days may vary. Don't know if this works for you but check it out. One other note, once drove straight to HH from CT after working all day, never do that again. good luck

 

[Lexxiefern]

We just drove from MA to charleston in October. We stopped in Fredricksburg, VA on the way down and did it in 2 days. On the way home we drove straight through. I actually preferred the straight through. It took about 16 hours, and yes add about 2 hours on for HHI.

You can definately do it! We will be doing the drive again next month

 

[Connears]

We have driven to Hilton Head and Disney from Massachusetts, too many times to count. If time is an issue, and there are at least two drivers, you can make it down in one day. If you can drive at night, leave 10 or 11PM, let the kids sleep and you will easily be down there by the 4 PM check in time.Definitely, in two, if you stop around half way, which would be about Richmond, VA.

It is actually not a bad drive. I don't think about it until I get around DC, then I think, 'Almost half way' yes some people think I'm crazy.

Have fun!!!